Correction for Essay Time Trial Sec 407 Zhang Yangfan 33
Science and technology has enabled us to replace parts of our body. What are your views with regard to the current state of affairs?
As science and technology advances, we are enabled to replace parts of our body. While many problems are solved, for example, kidney patients can prolong lives with the transplant of a new kidney, numerous questions are raised at the same time. As the demand of organs exceeds the supply from cadaver donors, many patients try to buy overseas organs through illegal means.
Recently, Singapore’s first case of organ trading has stirred up debates on whether organ trading should be allowed. Regarding the current state of affairs, I support organ trading, as it benefits both the patients and the poor. We should make good use of the advanced state of science and technology which has enabled for successful organ transplant to save more lives.
Firstly, those who hold an opposite view claim that it is wrong to sell our body as it threatens our personhood. This view is common to all cultures and no price is high enough to buy our body. However, these absolutists fail to take circumstances into account. Such idealism is for healthy armchair critics. Should society condemn a man to death to uphold a moral principle? If the patients can live longer with the help of science and technology, why are they not given the freedom to make a favored choice? Is it not an innovative way to help others to live a longer life by selling certain organs? As science advances, our way of thinking should progress too. As Singapore’s prestigious doctor Lee Wei Ling says, some of the regulations are outdated nowadays and they should be changed to allow people to do what is right. Apparently, it is right to save people’s lives rather that leave them to die because of the shortage of donated organs. Therefore, organ trading should be allowed, with measures put in place to protect the interests of the sellers as well.
Secondly, many argue that organ trading is another way to exploit the poor as they are not informed of the harm. Moreover, they may suffer potential medical risks in the future. Nevertheless, considering the new lease of life for the donor with a payment equivalent to 16.5 years of wages, the harm may not be that astounding. Inevitably, inequality is a fact of life which we all have to accept. If we cannot help the poor to break out of poverty in other ways, we should give them the freedom of choice to live a better life. To improve the situation, we can educate the poor about the harm and potential risks. Moreover, they should get follow-up health check after the operation and a fair payment as well. At the end of the day, the decision of the poor should be respected. To think out of the box, it is science and technology of organ transplant which makes it possible for the poor to earn money by selling organs. This should be accepted as another way of profit making.
Furthermore, in the debate concerning the exploitation of the poor, it is the exploitation which is wrong, not the process of organ trading itself. If organ trading becomes a trend which can no longer be banned, it may be more realistic to make sure the poor gets fair payment in this barter trade. If the supply of organs does not catch up with the demand, the patients may try to get organs that they need by all means, in order to survive. If we pay people for scientific research where their bodies are equivalent to commodities, why not pay for organs? Hence, it may be wise to pre-empt the situation by legalizing the sale of organs.
In conclusion, as science has enabled us to replace parts of our body, we should make full use of it. Generally, law reflects social realities to provide best outcome. Organ trading seems unethical currently. Yet it may have to be made legalized someday due to utilitarian considerations. Only then we can facilitate regulation and monitoring to minimize harmful results. At the end of the day, the evil in organ trading is outweighed by the moral good of living rather than dying. This advantage is offered by none other than advanced science and technology.
